N.C. State played four quarterbacks in its season-opening football game against Louisiana Tech on Saturday, including two true freshmen. Manny Stocker, a sophomore who at one point was battling for the starting position, wasn’t among them.

“We’re trying to redshirt Manny,” Doeren said. “If we have one more injury, we’ll have to bring him up, as well.”

A 6-foot-1, 212-pound sophomore from Coatesville, Pa., Stocker played only 40 snaps as a true freshman last year, throwing two incomplete passes as a backup to Mike Glennon.

Although he came into spring practice as a viable candidate for the starting job, Stocker quickly fell behind junior transfer Pete Thomas after an unimpressive 11 of 20, 96-yard, one-interception passing performance in the Wolfpack’s annual Kay Yow Spring Game.

He eventually fell to third on the depth chart when Doeren brought in graduate student Brandon Mitchell from Arkansas to run his up-tempo offense.

Doeren

“I think him playing last year was premature for his growth as a player,” Doeren said of Stocker. “I think he’s got a future ahead of him if he can develop a little bit.

“Giving him an opportunity to work on his mechanics, his throwing, the competition, all the things that go with seeing the college game and have it slow down in his head. I think a year going against our defense as a scout team quarterback will really benefit him.”

Mitchell completed all three of his passes for 93 yards and rushed for 19 yards on five carries before suffering a broken bone in his left foot Saturday. He was replaced by Thomas, who went 15 of 27 for 212 yards and an interception.

Freshman Bryant Sherriffs also saw action, running the ball nine times for 34 yards out of the Wildcat formation before another rookie, preferred walkon Josh Taylor finished up once the Wolfpack built an insurmountable lead.